1997 Jaguar XK8 - Daily Driver?

[Vanya]

Hahaha, I'm still gonna go see 2 XK8's this friday. We'll see after that. The Jag's curves are irresistible, and the comfortable ride just makes it that much better. But yeah I don't want the GT86 much any more. It's just so cheap in comparison. I want my beige leather. 

[Vanya]

Ok, NEVER AGAIN will I complain about the rust on my Turbo SE. I clearly am spoiled beyond measure. Having been researching the last couple of days it would seem neither the XK8 nor the XKR are capable of being subjected to ANY salt whatsoever lest I want to contend with this:

I mean, seriously!? 

So my options are now limited to buying YET ANOTHER car that I will only drive during the sunny part of the year, with it standing still during the rest of the year. 

Damn you XK8, why must your looks be so tempting! This must be the car equivalent to finding the girl of your dreams only to find she's riddled with STD's.... 

[Arun_D]

I was quite chuffed I took my newly acquired XJ for a service and new water pump at the weekend, and the mechanic called me up to say that underneath, mine was one of the best examples he's seen in years. So yes, I think these cars are prone to some calamity when it comes to corrosion.

There are good ones out there, Vanya. I'm ure you'll find it soon.

[Vanya]

The problem is, if I find a good one, one winter WILL ruin it.

Perhaps Jag aren't worse than any other manufacturer with cars of similar vintage. I recall a friend of mine bought a really nice Mercedes estate as a winter car one year - he got it for something silly like 1000 pounds, a wonderful example. 

A few months later I saw it again and couldn't believe it was the same car - there were giant patches of rust all over the place. Terrible. I'd feel horrible subjecting an XK8/XKR to that kind of treatment. 

[jonwat]

How about a four seater with a rustproof galvanised chasis & body, four useable seats & quite a looker 

[Vanya]

Hahaha, it just doesn't grab me quite like the XK does. You know what it's like when you have an itch. Nothing else will scratch it. I could get away with a mint condition orange/beige Evora NA and I'd still lust after the Jag.

Edit: I actually think there's a few of those along the road to the XK's we are looking at. So there's a chance. They're both grey though. Would've been badass to have one matching my SE. 

[jonwat]

How about a DB7, made from aluminium so no rust? 

[Chillidoggy]

Just get a Volvo T5.

End of thread.

[Vanya]

20 hours ago, jonwat said:

How about a DB7, made from aluminium so no rust? 

Let's not get carried away now. 

10 hours ago, ian29gte said:

Just get a Volvo T5.

End of thread.

Maybe you're right. Ive been eyeing R-design S60s, but nobody has anything nice to say about them. Although a 1995 850 is a true beast of a car - you can run it on original fluids and kit and it wont let you down for 200 000 miles. 

Anyhow today's the day. Gonna go check out an XK8 at an independent specialist. On the way we also have the ultimate Lotus reject car should we choose to see it, which the missus and I could arun s a daily until it dies - the 2006 Europa. We'll see if "business class by Lotus" really was worthy of its universal lambasting as a catchphrase. 

[Vanya]

Update! Drove 1040 km yesterday (gosh, why is Sweden so goddamn big...) to see what turned out to be an absolutely fantastic XK8 in Sherwood green with magnolia interior only to realise that...nah. This isn't for me.

Granted, it maybe didn't stand a chance since I'd taken out my V8 for a thrashing a day before and been reminded of what motoring is all about , but something didn't feel right. I usually become like an excited puppy when I see the cars I'm after (the XKR did have this effect on me oddly enough) but the XK8 didn't wow me. 

The example I drove was "tight" - it felt like the bushes and suspension were in good nick, especially with it being a one-owner car. But the steering was indeed too floaty after the wonderfully balanced Esprit V8 servo, and the auto gearbox well...

Lesson learned. I shouldn't go around looking at auto boxes. I can't do auto boxes. Think I've realised why now. A regular MT car starts you at low revs and lets you go through the rev-range at your leisure before switching up. The XK like most automatics, give you some silly "cruise" speeds as you depress the gas pedal - slow cruise, fast cruise and then, "kickdown", a concept which I truly hate, like a button you have to press to have fun. And even then, the car will make shifting decisions for me. No way!

At the same time, we did manage to go see the 2008 Europa. It deserved all the bollocking it got for trying to sell itself as a Cayman alternative. 

Regular humans find the Esprit a challenge to get in and out of, and I'm so used to it whether it's left or right hand drive, but the Europa was a bloody pain in the ass even for me. The seller said it's just a matter of getting used to it, but as a daily driver HELL NO! The sills felt as high as an Exige (they weren't) but still a real challenge. For Joe Blow who want's to keep up with his Porsche peers in the City? This wasn't even going to appear on the radar, let alone on his bank transaction history. 

However despite that I was tempted to just buy it and see where it leads. Some wally had lowered it and put giant black rims on it, wasn't having none of that. Other than that it's a very handsome car with a nice design and presence, albeit with an interior that feels like a tarted up Elise. The chairs had no padding whatsoever, so I dread to think of the ride... still a Lotus IS a Lotus. 

 

 

[jonwat]

On 05/05/2016 at 18:51, ian29gte said:

Just get a Volvo T5.

I thought it had to be British???

If not, how about a Boxster? They're superb, galvanized body (no rust), reliable & very, very cheap. 

[Chillidoggy]

1 hour ago, jonwat said:

I thought it had to be British???

If not, how about a Boxster? They're superb, galvanized body (no rust), reliable & very, very cheap. 

 

It can no longer be British because if so, it will fall apart in one year of Swedish winter conditions.

[Vanya]

9 hours ago, jonwat said:

I thought it had to be British???

If not, how about a Boxster? They're superb, galvanized body (no rust), reliable & very, very cheap. 

HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Oh you're funny. Me? In a Porsche? HAHAHAHA....

Some things are best left unsaid, such as my opinion about German motors, regardless of marque. The BMW i8 is ok though.  

7 hours ago, ian29gte said:

It can no longer be British because if so, it will fall apart in one year of Swedish winter conditions.

Few things seem to hold up to Swedish winter.....it truly would be a living shame to subject a fine motor such as an XKR to those conditions. Although I don't think Sweden would be harder on cars than the UK - you guys have salt thrown on your roads in abundance as well no?

Right now it looks like we're putting plans for a new daily on ice in favour of throwing more money at the Esprits. I've just ordered new rear springs and dampers and the V8 is due to a C-service.